Automatic faucets

• US 20140174556A1
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Original Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Inventors: Herbert, Kay, Mo, Xiaoxiong, Daher, Jean F., Chen, Qiaohong, Vish, Ronald J., Guler, Fatih, Wang, Xu, Thompson, Stanley O., Krull, Jeff, Carpenter, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,695,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/78.1
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/00 Fluid-delivery valves, e.g. self-closing valvesfor liquid handling B67D; for flushing devices for water-closets or the like E03D
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1842 Ambient condition change responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 Combined

Abstract

An automatic faucet includes a housing constructed to receive at least one water inlet conduit and having a spout for delivering water. The automatic faucet includes a valve module, a sensor module, a battery module, a turbine module, and a control module. The valve module includes a valve controlled by an electromagnetic actuator for controlling the water flow from the spout. The sensor module is constructed to provide sensor data influenced by a user. The control module is constructed to control opening and closing of the valve by providing signals to the electromagnetic actuator. The control module is also constructed to receive sensor data from the sensor module and execute a sensing algorithm. The control module is also constructed to execute a power management algorithm for managing electrical power generated by the water turbine and provided to and from the battery.

Claims

1. An automatic faucet comprising:

a housing constructed to receive at least one water inlet conduit and having a spout for delivering water;

a valve module including a valve controlled by an electromagnetic actuator for controlling the water flow from said spout;

a sensor module constructed to provide sensor data influenced by a user;

a control module constructed to control opening and closing of said valve by providing signals to said electromagnetic actuator, and

said control module constructed to receive sensor data from said sensor module and execute a sensing algorithm that keeps track of noise signal level and dynamically adapts a signal threshold, said sensing algorithm tracking signal trend to determine presence of a user.

2. The automatic faucet of claim 1, wherein said control module is constructed to execute said sensing algorithm utilizing separate parameters for different power supply sources.

3. The automatic faucet of claim 1, wherein said sensor module includes a capacitive sensor.

4. The automatic faucet of claim 3, wherein said capacitive sensor includes a touch capacitive sensor.

5. The automatic faucet of claim 3, wherein said capacitive sensor includes a proximity capacitive sensor.

10. The automatic faucet of claim 1 further including a water filter associated with said actuator.

12. The automatic faucet of claim 1 wherein said valve module is designed for auto shut off upon removal of said actuator.

13. The automatic faucet of claim 1 including a water turbine for providing power to said electronic control circuit.

14. The automatic faucet of claim 13 wherein said water turbine and said control module are designed to measure a water flow rate of said faucet.

15. The automatic faucet of claim 13 wherein said water turbine and said control module are designed to detect a fault condition of said faucet.

16. The automatic faucet of claim 13 wherein said control module is constructed to execute a power management algorithm.

6-9. -9. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

17-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An automatic faucet comprising:

a housing constructed to receive at least one water inlet conduit and having a spout for delivering water;

a valve module including a valve controlled by an electromagnetic actuator for controlling the water flow from said spout;

a turbine module constructed to generate electrical power;

a battery module constructed to provide electrical power; and

a control module constructed to control opening and closing of said valve by providing signals to said electromagnetic actuator, said control module being constructed to execute a power management algorithm for managing electrical power generated by said water turbine and provided to and from said battery.

22. The automatic faucet of claim 21 further including a capacitive sensor.

25. The automatic faucet of claim 21 further including an active infra-red sensor comprising and infrared emitter and detector.

27. The automatic faucet of claim 21, wherein said valve module and said control module are located in a control system unit located below a top surface of a sink.

28. The automatic faucet of claim 27, wherein said control system unit includes a quick connect fitting for connecting said water inlet conduit.

29. The automatic faucet of claim 28, wherein said control system unit includes a water filter associated with said actuator.

30. The automatic faucet of claim 28, wherein said control system unit is mounted on a wall using a wall plate.

31. The automatic faucet of claim 21 wherein said valve module is designed for auto shut off upon removal of said actuator.

32. The automatic faucet of claim 21 wherein said water turbine and said control module are designed to measure a water flow rate of said faucet.

33. The automatic faucet of claim 21 wherein said water turbine and said control module are designed to detect a fault condition of said faucet.

34. The automatic faucet of claim 22 wherein said control module is constructed to execute a sensing algorithm utilizing sensor data from said sensor, said sensing algorithm keeping track of noise signal level and dynamically adapts a signal threshold, said sensing algorithm tracking signal trend to determine presence of a user.

35. The automatic faucet of claim 21 including an indicator for indicating status to a user.

36. The automatic faucet of claim 35 wherein said indicator includes an LED diode.

23-24. -24. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

37-49. -49. (canceled)

50. An automatic faucet including a water turbine located in a water flow discharged from the faucet, the water turbine comprising a rotor coupled to rotor blades located within a water path having a predetermined flow rate, a magnet, a stator and an electrical coil constructed and arranged to generate electrical power.

51. The automatic faucet including the water turbine of claim 50 further constructed and arranged to detect a minute amount of water leaving the faucet.

52. The automatic faucet including the water turbine of claim 50 further constructed and arranged to detect a flow rate of water leaving the faucet.

53. The automatic faucet including the water turbine of claim 50, wherein said faucet is actuated by an automatic sensor and being further constructed and arranged to detect a malfunction of elements inside the faucet based on signal from said water turbine.

54. The automatic faucet including the water turbine of claim 50, wherein said rotor is attached to said magnet thereby displacing rotationally said magnet, and wherein said electrical coil is stationary with respect to said stator.

55. (canceled)